William t



(No Model.)

W. T. GHAMBBRLAIN.

AIR GUN.

Patented Juny, 19,1883.-

III

Il All UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAIVIT. CHAMBERLAIN, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BENJAMIN M. PRINCE, OF SAME PLACE.

AIR-

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 279,538, dated June 19, 1883.

Application filed March 29, 1883. (No model.)

luseful, Improvement in Air-Guns, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, inA

which closes the front of said chamber and is 1 adapted to be broken or removed, whereby the iair is directed against the projectile or missile.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a cannon or gun, which will hereinafter be denominated a fire-arm, and in the wall of the same is an opening or air-inlet, a., which is covered on the inner end by an inwardlyT- opening valve, B, which is properly secured within the arm.

C represents a diaphragm, of slate or other brittle or friable material, which is tightly iitted within the bore of the arm at a proper distance from the front end of the bore, so as to divide the bore, leaving a chamber, B', between said diaphragm an d the rear ofthe bore, the air-inlet c leading therei nto. Through the rear wall ofthe arm is passed a firing-pin, D, which is sufficiently long to reach the dia` phragm C, and projects sufficiently outward to be struck, the effect whereof is to break or fracture said diaphragm, the portion of said pin within the bore being fitted in a guide, E, whichis properly secured within the bore.

with the diaphragm C, confines the air within the bore of the arm. A projectile or missile is now introduced into the arm, and when it is desired to discharge the same the pin D is struck, whereby the diaphragm C is broken or removed, the compressed air immediately eX- erts itself against the projectile and forcibly discharges the same, the result being accomplished without the smell, smoke, heat, and .fouling tendency of explosives'and the danger of transporting and handling the same.

In Figure 2 the air-inlet (t is formed in the plug at the base of the bore, and the vali/'e B is fitted to said plug, without, however, producing different results from those stated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, "isl. A fire-arm having a chamber for compressed air, a diaphragm in front thereof, and a firingpin adapted to strike said diaphragm so'as to break or remove the same, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. In an air-gun, a diaphragm dividing the bore, formed of brittle or friable material, and occupying a position between the compressedair chamber and the portion to receive the projectile, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

XVM. T. CHAMBER-LAIN.

Titnessesz JOHN A. WIEDERsHEIM,

A. P. GRANT. 

